Free The Ugly Stepsister by Avril Sabine Page A

her fork.
    “Cajun crawfish and shrimp etouffe.”
    Ellie stared at him. “Shrimp what?”
    “Eh-too-fay.” Sam said the word slowly.
    “I’ve never heard of it in my life, but it tastes wonderful.”
    “It’s an authentic Louisiana recipe.”
    “Ahh… okay.” She didn’t know much about Louisiana, but after tonight she could say that their food was awesome.
    The meal was mostly quiet, with a few easy questions from Teresa. Following the main meal they had chocolate strawberry shortcake for dessert. Teresa excused herself, the moment dinner was ended, to return to her study. Ellie offered to help clean up but Sam sent her and Tom to the downstairs lounge room.
    Ellie dropped onto the double seater lounge. “I don’t think I could eat another bite. I feel like I’m about to explode.”
    Tom joined her. “Who was the one who asked for seconds of dessert?”
    Ellie grinned. “You saw what I eat each week. How could I resist a second helping of dessert?”
    Tom put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer. “When do you have to be home?”
    “Ahh…”
    “You don’t, do you?”
    “Well…”
    “You want to give me the real story about last weekend?”
    Ellie sighed. “Don’t wreck such a perfect night.”
    “Are you ever planning to tell me?”
    Ellie stared at him for several minutes. It had been so much easier to lie to him when she didn’t really know him. “I don’t know.”
    “Thank you.”
    “What for?”
    Tom grinned. “For actually telling me the truth.”
    “If I wasn’t too full to move, I’d protest that by sitting in the chair furthest from you.”
    “Did you realise you’ve got no lipstick left on now?”
    “Really? And you thought it was important to point that out because?”
    Tom’s lips met hers in answer. They were still on the couch making out when Sam clattered down the stairs. Ellie pulled away from Tom, but he kept his arm around her and wouldn’t let her move far. He shook his head at the query on her face.

Chapter Eleven
    Sam held out a plastic container with two slices of shortcake in it. “For you and Lauren tomorrow. It’d probably be best to sit it on an ice brick and wrap it up in a tea towel to keep it from getting too warm in your schoolbag.”
    “Thanks.”
    “You said she wouldn’t sit with you for lunch.”
    “Ahh… I think she was only threatening. I don’t think she really meant it. Although we are talking about your cooking. So maybe she might have.”
    “Thanks for coming tonight.”
    “Ahh… sure.”
    “I’ll…” Sam gestured towards his room. “Well…”
    Ellie pulled away from Tom so she could sit up properly. “We didn’t get through all those movies on the weekend. Did you want to watch one of them now?”
    Sam glanced behind himself to check the time. “I only have half an hour before I have to go to bed.”
    “Oh.”
    “I can watch the start of it with you,” Sam offered.
    “Only if you don’t have anything else you wanted to do before you head to bed.”
    Sam shook his head. “Which one did you want to watch? They’re still down here.”
    Ellie shrugged. She couldn’t remember which movies she’d picked out. “Surprise me.”
    Tom pulled her back against him and she rested her head on his shoulder as Sam put the movie on. When Sam went to bed, the movie was forgotten. Ellie willingly kissed Tom, her hands roaming as freely as his. The movie returning to the menu reminded them of their surroundings.
    Tom smiled. “I should probably give you a lift home. I’ve got to get up early in the morning.”
    “I guess.”
    “You don’t sound all that enthusiastic. Were you planning on staying again? There’s plenty of space in my bed.”
    Ellie stared at him for a moment. “On the weekend, when I asked which bedroom was mine, why did you say yours?”
    “You were making my brother uncomfortable. So what do you say? Are you staying?”
    Ellie laughed softly. “No thanks. You’d still be complaining in the